Deliberately harming the Crown Prince is a crime punishable by death or lifelong imprisonment. Even if it was just a punch, Laikin had committed an act that could potentially ruin his life and his family. Knowing this, Dylan threw herself between them to stop the fight from escalating.

"You're both insane," she said, spreading her arms out. "Seriously, what has gotten into the both of you?"

'I'm too drunk to deal with this.'

"Were you really okay with him just kissing you like that?" Laikin asked, gesturing toward the Crown Prince.

Caspian's face contorted with anger. "You're getting on my fucking nerves, Lord Laikin."

Although Caspian was only sixteen, he was still the Crown Prince and next in line to the throne. The Crown Prince could destroy Laikin and his family if he wanted to. 

"How about we all drop this and walk away?" she said in a stern voice. "It's not worth it. I'm not worth it."

"I'm getting on your nerves?" Laikin echoed with a mocking sneer. "Who's the one who grabbed a drunk girl and kissed her?"

'Did he just ignore me?'

"Last time I checked, you took a minor out drinking."

"I ran into her."

"You expect me to believe that?"

Irritation flashed across Dylan's face. "I'm going back to my room," she said, looking disappointed. "You two can kill each other for all I care, just leave me out of it."

The two fought like cats and dogs, but for what cause? At the end of the day, she couldn't give her heart to either one of them. At the end of the day, they would both fall in love with Grisa and leave her. 

She felt tingling and numbness on her lips from Caspian's kiss. She didn't understand the warmth that enveloped her body. Was it the alcohol? Was it something else? She sighed, trudging her feet along the ground toward her room. This was all far too confusing.

***

"Earth to Dylan!" said Lucas. "Put the book down and eat something."

Dylan glanced up from the book in her lap. Her mind had been a complete mess since last night's events. She ended up sleeping through her morning classes, but it worked out well for her. Her hangover wasn't as severe because of the extra rest, and she didn't have to face Caspian.

"I'm studying," she said with a sigh, burying her nose into the textbook once more. 

"Studying for what?" asked Grisa, spooning a scoop of mashed potatoes into her mouth. "Even if you fail midterms you won't get condemned. Nobody here studies for those."

It was strange. Even if a student did terribly on tests or exams, they weren't reprimanded by the academy. As long as they attended their classes and did the work, they would graduate with a diploma. 

What was even stranger was—

"Eat this sist—no, Dylan!" Lucas exclaimed, transferring some meat onto Dylan's already full plate. "Lady Grisa told me you take medicine," he said with a frown. "You should take it now."

'Why is this guy here?'

"Go on," scolded Grisa. "You have swordsmanship soon, so eat well!"

Dylan sighed, putting her book down and digging into her food. Why was Lucas suddenly hanging around her?

"Speaking of which," said Grisa, "why did Dyl decide to learn swordsmanship?"

Apart from letters, students were isolated from outside society during the weekdays. As such, they turned to academy gossip for entertainment. The student cafeteria became the main place to exchange and share information. 

'It's the perfect place to start a rumour.'

"It was actually the Duke who asked me to learn it," Dylan explained loudly, poking at the food on her plate with a fork. "He even bought me a sword. His Grace recognized my talent earlier on and gave me the best tutors possible."

"Really?" asked Lucas with a perplexed expression. "What did you study?"

With the loudest voice possible she said, "I studied politics, war tactics, business, natural sciences, arithmetics—you know, the usual."

People around them began to whisper—with very good reason. The subjects the Duke had Dylan study were specifically areas of study for an heir. Why was the Duke, who already had an heir apparent, raising his daughter like a successor?

Truthfully, Dylan was the one who convinced the Duke to let her study those subjects. She was deliberately setting a situation up that would push Axil into a corner. 

Dylan was adding gas to the already burning flames—the rumour that Axil's position as heir apparent wasn't secure, and Dylan was best suited to inherit the Dukedom. 

'People are beginning to question your competence, Axil. How will you react?'

***

"Put your book down," Lucas complained, slashing at a dummy with his sword. "You've been studying all throughout lunch. Isn't that enough?"

Dylan sighed loudly and raked a hand through her hair. "Brother," she said, "have you even ever studied before?"

The word brother still felt bitter on the tip of her tongue. She had said it several times before to Axil, but it was coated with mockery at the time. This was different. Lucas genuinely wanted her to call him brother. 

Lucas clicked his tongue. "You'll be fine even if you don't study."

Dylan put the textbook down and slowly stood. She couldn't understand why he wanted to be close to her. He was supposed to detest her very existence. It was all so strange.

She tried to focus on her eight basic angles of attack with Lucas, but the penetrating gazes from the guys around her made her uncomfortable. Ever since she defeated Lucas in a sparring match, the boys in the club watched her with lovestruck expressions. It was gross. 

"Isn't practice a bit... uncomfortable today?" Dylan asked, gripping the hilt of her sword. 

"Maybe," Lucas grunted and continued his merciless beating of the dummy. "But they're staring at you, so I don't really care. You've got yourself a fan club."

"A fan club?"

He glanced at their surroundings to make sure no one was listening, and then lowered his voice. "Quite a few people seem to believe you're better suited as the next Duke over Lord Axil," he explained. "You've managed to collect followers without even trying."

The more support she had, the easier it would be to take down Axil and rise to the position as heiress presumptive. After officially being named the Duke's successor, she would flee and live life as Jonas Ferguson. 

After all, there is no success without a successor. The Dukedom would be thrown into chaos—it would burn to the ground and she would be the one to start the flames. 

"I see," she said, lowering her head to hide her smirk. 

She raised her sword above her head and—

"You're doing it wrong," a cold voice said from behind her.

'Don't tell me...'

He gripped her sword wrist with calloused fingers and moved behind her. Dylan was entirely paralyzed with fear as she felt her back against his broad chest. 

"Sister," Axil whispered into her ear.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Let me know what you guys think about me adding pictures and a banner to my chapters? Does it give my story more life?